Adjustable earth-auger.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

G. STEVENSON.

ADJUSTABLE EARTH AUGEE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1903.

NO MODEL FIQIZ FIGJ hvvENToR Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OTFicE.

GEORGE STEVENSON, OF DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.

ADJUSTABLE EARTH-AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,368, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed September 15, 1903. Serial No. 173,831. No model.)

To It w/umt it rmty concern.-

Be it known that I, G ORGE STEVENSON, farmer, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Adjustable Earth-Auger, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means employed for making post-holes and provides improved apparatus therefor which can be adjusted to make holes of varying size. According hereto an earth-auger is formed of two semidisk cutters having projecting stems by means of which they are clamped in a stock fixed to the end of a cranked tubular operating-handle. A pin threaded at one end working in a threaded hole in the stock secures the stems in a slot therein and carries a leading-screw at its other end. Each semidisk has a cutting edge on one of its radial sides, and it may also have a cutting-point upon its outer circumference. The semidisks are adjusted with their outer peripheries at the correct distance apart to form a hole of the size required. The tubular operating-handle has an open passage at its lower end connecting it with the outside of the stock in order to permit the access of air to the hole formed by the auger and prevent the formation of a vacuum when the auger is being withdrawn tending to hold it back. Deeper holes may be made by adding another section of tube to the operating-handle.

The head of the anger is hollowed so that the arm of the operator may rest thereon with pressure without slipping when he is operating the tool.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the same numbers of reference indicate the same or similar parts.

Figure 1 is a general view of the auger. Fig. 2 is a view of the head of the auger, showing the hollow for the operators arm to rest in.

A head 1 is attached to a tubular operating crank-handle 2 by means of a stud 3. The stud 3 is screwed into a boss part 4 of the head 1 until the point of the stud engages in 1 a groove 5, (shown dotted in Fig. 1,) thus preventing the head 1 from being pulled off, but permitting it to revolve.

The head 1 is hollowed, preferably as shown in Fig. 2, so that the arm of the operator will rest therein without slipping when he is operating the tool.

A vertical tube 6 is attached by suitable means to the crank-handle in the same line of center as the head 1. A stock 7 is secured to the lower end of the tube 6. A wire 18 is placed within the vertical tube 6 and is adapted to close a hole 19 in the stock 7, which opens into the inside of the vertical tube 6 when the auger is in operation, and when it is desired to withdraw the auger the wires are removed inorder to permit the access of air to the hole formed by the auger and prevent the creation of a vacuum there tending to retain the auger. Two semidisk cutters 8 and 9 are provided with projecting stems 10 and 11, which are adapted to slide in a slot on the stock 7 Each semidisk has a cutting edge 12 and 13 acting opposite each otherone on each side of the stock 7. Each semidisk may also have a cutting-point 1A and 15 upon its outer circumference. The semidisks are adjusted to form a hole of the size required by being drawn apart as far as the stems 10 and 11 will permit and by being pressed together as far as the stock 7 will permit. A screwed pin 16, which forms part of a leading-screw 17, is adapted to be screwed upward from the lower end of the stock 7 through a threaded hole therein to clamp the stems 10 and 11, inserted in the slots therein.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An earth-auger comprising a cranked tubular operating-handle, a recessed head thereon, a hollow tube attached to said handle the upper end of said tube being open, a stock secured to said tube, having a channel therein leading from one side thereof to the lower end of the tube, a slot in said stock and a threaded hole extending from said slot to the lower end of the stock, two semidisk cutters In witness whereof I have hereunto set my having stems sliding in said slot, a threaded hand in presence of two Witnesses.

clamping-pin in said threaded hole for clamp- 1 -11 T ing the stems in any position, a leading-screw GEORGE bFEVEB carried by the said pin and a removable Wire \Vitnesses: passing through the tube and normally 0105- l A. J PARK, ing said channel 1n the stock. 1 J. R. PARK. 

